my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Relay-like snap/clunk sound coming from power supply IREM Xetron N3-X75/95

Author Topic: Relay-like snap/clunk sound coming from power supply IREM Xetron N3-X75/95 Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 11-13-2014 03:46 PM                     I have a IREM Xetron N3-X75/95 power supply with a 2000 watt bulb in a Super-Lumex lamphouse. When the bulb first strikes, a relay-like snapping/clunking noise comes from the power supply. It doesn't always do it. Sometimes it does it several times. It also happens once or twice during the show. I don't see any visual affect on the screen, and the amps are steady at 80 on the lamphouse. It is a very different noise than like the ignitor with a hard-striking bulb. It is a heavier noise. What could be the cause of this noise? Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Edgar Prass Film Handler Posts: 32 From: Tartu, Tartu county, Estonia Registered: Mar 2013 posted 11-14-2014 12:54 AM                     Sounds like the automatic fuse on my Videvox X3-140 rectifier. It pops out and back on a fraction of a second later. But the lamp also flickers strongly or goes out when that happens. Mine also does it several times mostly. A good kick is a temporary fix. Took that thing apart, checked everything, did find some problems and solved them, but didn't get rid of the fuse clunking. Solution was to get another rectifier.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 11-14-2014 08:47 PM                     Bet you got a 3 phase contactor relay getting ready to fail. The contact points are prob all but burnt due to age.  |  IP: Logged Tony Ratcliff Expert Film Handler Posts: 216 From: Madison, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 11-15-2014 12:36 PM                     How hard is it to change the contact relays? Would I still be able to get new ones for this rectifier? I haven't taken the cover off the rectifier yet, but I have been able to watch thru the vents when it is happening and I can see sparks. But I can't tell exactly where they come from.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 11-15-2014 08:18 PM                        Tony: remove wheel and top cover.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 11-16-2014 02:01 AM                     Irem uses ABB contactors. They are 4-pole type so that one can wire up the system as a self-latching hold circuit. Most all installs in the US don't take advantage of that feature and use either the lamphouse or automation to hold the contactor in so you can replace the ABB with a lower cost 3-pole contactor, if desired (and of a more easily obtained, lower cost brand). If you go with an ABB, we have found that IREM was a bit optimistic in their current ratings for them in countries with 120/208 power. The contactors would fail due to excessive current so we generally upped the rating when we replaced them so we didn't have to revisit the problem again later. Making sure the wires were securely tightened on the contactor is a must too. The other relay in an IREM of that vintage is the "RA" relay (in later units it was called the A1 relay, I believe). It is used to keep inrush current down and allow by bypassing the main filter capacitor(s) until the lamp strikes. Once the lamp strikes, the voltage drops, the relay drops and the main capacitors are on line...if that RA relay fails, you can get a situation where the lamp strikes and immediately drops out since the main filters may not be coming on line. So there is another place where you could see sparks too.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.